New research shows: Wear a helmet, get hit by a car

Traffic psychologist Dr. Ian Walker used a bicycle fitted with an ultrasonic distance sensor to record data from more than 2,500 overtaking motorists while riding the bike between Salisbury and Bristol. He found drivers were as much as twice as likely to get particularly close to the bicycle when he was wearing the helmet. Across the board, drivers passed an average of 8.5cm (three-and-a-third inches) closer with the helmet than without.

A few women have suggested to me that I dress like a woman for increased passing distance. Dr. Walker tested this idea in his study by donning a wig while cycling. He found that wearing the wig resulted in an average of 14 centimetres (5.5 inches) more space when passing.

Paul pointed out the central idea this 'study' neglected, and that's lane positioning. According to the LCI list, there's a chart showing the author's greates distance from the curb was a little over a meter. Hugging the curb is a sure-fire way to have motorists pass far too closely.

I was indeed only up to 1.25 metres from the kerb, but you have to realise that we have much smaller roads here in the UK and that 1.25m is practically in the centre of the lane on most roads. They tend to be something like 5.2m in total width in urban settings.

I totally agree with the poster who mentioned that distance from the kerb is important and I did study this factor, riding at 5 different distances from the edge of the road - the results were clear: the further out I rode, the closer drivers got. Interestingly, this was the opposite to what I expected and I was not really aware of it happening as I rode: it was only when I analysed the readings that I saw the results. You can see them at http://drianwalker.com/overtaking

AASHTO standard for roadway width is approximately 4 metres, 12 feet. My studies indicate the further a bicyclist is AWAY from the curb, the further away the passing motor vehicle.

In fact, at a distance of 2 metres from the curb in the outide curb lane, the motor vehicle MUST pass in the adjacent inside lane.

Which leaves approximately 2.5 metres space between motor vehicle and bicyclists AND, more importantly, 2 metres space to curb, for emergency evasive manuvers, should the said motorist choose to be a real ASSHOLE, trying to run down the bicyclist. Of course, dancing with the cars requires the use of a rear view mirror.

In your study, your riders also used women's wigs. In the US, Halloween is upon us.

I might consider doing a study of bicyclists in various costumes: witch, Little Bo Peep, and perhaps Superman.

I have conducted a study in which the rider donned full battle dress uniform of the 82nd Airborne Light Bicycle Infantry, towing Captain Pecker. Unfortunately, the rider was arrested, charged with outraging public decency, and spend 62 days in the county JAIL. Needless, to say, all findings were INVALID.

Perhaps the pyschology of the Brits are not relevant to the US. Invalidate my last comment about your study having no merit. My apologies. I am being too States-centric.

I do remember a jolly chap in San Antonio, TX who insisted on the b-day suit costume. Through the grapevine, I heard the chap is no longer with us. Someone plugged him with a .357 magnum. Perhaps he was wearing some butt-ugly socks.

Your field of study, traffic psychology, is interesting. There is much psychology at play when in traffic. In the US, it's more like psychology warfare.

For example, US motorists consider people use bicycles as their primary means of transport lowlifes, drunks, and n'er-to-do. It is useful to use those stereotypes to some advantage for the bicyclists.

Some of my studies include the crazy bicyclist weaving all over the road like a drunk or a psychotic schizophrenic. In the US, it works wonders. Motorists pass with considerable care and great distance.

Of course, installing a sign minicking the MUTCD stop sign on the back of the bicycle with the words, SLOW COP AHEAD, works great too.

My studies have indicated some motorist consideration for the bicyclist towing a baby trailer. Even without a baby inside, motorists seem to pass with increased care and distance.

Of course, to generate some measure of heat, one could install a sign, BACK OFF DIPSHIT, which generates either laughter or extreme road rage.